Église Saint-Jean-de-Malte

Church in Aix en Provence

CC BY-SA 3.0 / Earwiglet

Originally in the 12th century, this location was occupied by the Knights Hospitaller, a military, chivalrous, and noble Roman Catholic Order. They established a chapel and hospice here, and in the 13th century, a Gothic-style church was constructed, marking it as the first Roman Catholic church in Provence. Subsequently, the church became the final resting place for the nobility of Provence. In the 17th century, the expansion of Aix en Provence beyond its city walls incorporated this site into the city, forming what is now known as the Quartier Mazarin. The church suffered plunder and loss of valuables and furnishings during the French Revolution. However, in the 19th century, restoration efforts brought the church back into use by the parish, a function it continues to serve under the administration of apostolic monks.

Among the church’s notable features are its splendid stained glass windows dating back to the 19th and 20th centuries. In 1858, local artists created the stunning window adorning the apse. Additionally, a rose window above the main entrance from 1896 and a window by Henri Guerin added in the transept in 1984 contribute to the church’s visual appeal. Noteworthy artworks within the church include commissioned paintings by Gilles Garcin and sculptures by Christophe Veyrier. The collection also boasts paintings by Jean Armelin, Andre Boisson, Michel-Francois Dandre-Bardon, Louis Finson, Frederico Barocci, Jean-Baptiste Jouvenet, Eugene Delacroix, and Nicolas Mignard.

The Église Saint-Jean-de-Malte appears in our Complete Guide to Visiting Aix en Provence!

This website uses affiliate links which may earn a commission at no additional cost to you!